Genealogy Forum UK

18 months ago I decided to go on ancestry to help my dad find members of his long lost family.
He was in the care system after his mum died when he was just 9.
I found his sister and brother and happily re-united them along with other family members.
Only to discover along the way that the man I thought was my dad for the past years actually isn't.

After a very awkward conversation with my mother. I was told my father must be a man she had a brief fling with called Brian clewson.
A name I can not find anywhere.
She says he was couple of years older than her and went to the same school as her.
Todmorden county secondary modern, at Scaitcliffe. Todmorden.

My mum also threw another pearl in there stating she heard he used different names after leaving school.
This is why I need the school intake records for Todmorden County Secondary Modern/ hoping to confirm his name.
The man in question was born in 1945.
He went to Roomfield School in Todmorden and then onto Todmorden county secondary modern. When it opened in 1957.
My mum told me where he lived whilst at school this should be on the school intake records and therefore confirm we are on the right track.
It took over from an overcrowded Roomfield school in Todmorden. Which has since gone.

I believe he may have been in Todmorden because he may have been adopted or fostered into the area from the Bradford area.

I have a dna close family match in Bradford ... my 1st cousin 1 x removed.
Leaving me to understand we share a great grand parent.
I can find 2 descendants.
One of which I believe is my real dads parent.
However I can not find his birth recorded to either.
So I am also thinking this may have been a child just being passed to some-one else to raise.

If anyone can help me I would be extremely grateful

welcome to the forum hartley, might be on the 1939 registry?

You won't be able to see any school registers for the 1950s online as there is a 100 year ruling for these records.

You could contact Todmorden County Secondary Modern School to see if they still hold the records there or whether they have been deposited at the local or County Archives - they may have been destroyed. Even if they haven't been destroyed, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to access them anyway, but it would be worth asking the question.

I have sent you a pm (private message)

I believe the great grand parents are Edward Claven born 1893 and Helen/E West1900-1985
If you wish to send me a Private message on this site to I would happily send you a screenshot of the at side of the family tree on ancestry.
Kind regards

Ok so we could maybe get a picture going back of the family might help.
No living persons only deceased.

So this is Edward and Helens marriage
Marriages Mar 1923 Free bmd
Claven Edward West Bradford 9b 339
West Helen Claven Bradford 9b 339

Can anyone find this Edward or Helen on 1939 pls census.

Children a few...but only posting those deceased.

Veronica Births Dec 1923 free bmd
Claven Veronica K West Bradford 9b 152

this looks like Veronicas Death
Free bmd
Dec qtr 1971
6th Nov 1923 birth Paddington

if anymore deaths for children of family pls

I think this is Edwards birth
CLAVEN, EDWARD WALLACE
GRO Reference: 1894 D Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 5

and poss death
Deaths Dec 1972
CLAVEN EDWARD 27SE1894 PRESTON 10F 984
--------------
this looks like Helen West (Nellie /Ellen) birth
WEST, NELLIE HAIGH
GRO Reference: 1900 D Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 64

baptism at St Johns Bowling York 1901 9th January
Nellie West - parents Benjamin and Sarah West- 47 Bedford st.- Van driver

poss death...
Deaths 1985
CLAVEN ELLEN 19NO1900 BRADFORD 4 402

can we confirm somehow this is Ellen/Helen Clavens death?? as think it might be for an ellen Brannon who marries a Wm Claven
as on 1939 Ellen Claven has this death date.
(BRENNAN, ELLEN FLYNN
GRO Reference: 1900 D Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 26)

so no idea when Ellen Claven dies.

Marriages Jun 1900 free bmd....her parents.
Haigh Sarah Bradford, Y. 9b 76
West Benjamin Bradford, Y. 9b 76

Just adding to Bcc to help my head work out the tree...as might help.
will delete soon as out of BC area

https://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/brows ... =500877249

I think that the children may have gone to St Vincents Poorhouse (not sure if a boys home)
or just an orphanage
Garstang Rd Fullwood

Registers of Habitual Criminals and Police Gazettes, 1834-1934

Name: Edward Claven
[Jack Smith]
Event Type: Conviction
Conviction Age: 37
Birth Date: 1894
Birth Place: Bradford
Conviction Date: 6 Oct 1931
Charge: Shop Breaking
Sentence: 4 months
Jail: Leeds

I have a feeling Nellie West daughter of Benjamin and Sarah is the wrong one

WEST, NELLIE HAIGH
GRO Reference: 1900 D Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 64

Name: Nellie West
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 9 Jan 1901
Baptism Place: Bowling, St John, Yorkshire, England
Parish as it Appears: Bowling, St John
Father: Benjamin West
Mother: Sarah West

Name: Nellie West
Age: 0
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1901
Registration Quarter: Apr-May-Jun
Death Registration Place: Bradford, Yorkshire West Riding, United Kingdom
Death Date: Jun 1901
Inferred Death Place: Yorkshire West Riding, United Kingdom
Volume: 9b
Page: 38

Just found this...

Elec regis 1945 and 1946
Edward Claven no 95 Knowlwood Road Todmordon

no other name with him

any later ones pls

Ok so the Nellie West with mother Haigh we think is incorrect she dies in 1901

so our Helen west could be one of these ..the Todmorden one is interesting ..but think that one marries a Horsfall.

Births Sep 1882
West Helen Leeds 9b 541

Births Jun 1888
WEST Helena Todmorden 9a 232
WEST, HELENA GREENWOOD
GRO Reference: 1888 J Quarter in TODMORDEN Volume 09A Page 232

Births Dec 1904
West Helen Gertrude Tadcaster 9c 973

that one might be this one
Name: Helen West
Marriage Age: 23
Event Type: Marriage
Birth Year: abt 1888
Marriage Date: 14 Jan 1911
Marriage Place: Shipley, St Peter, Yorkshire, England
Parish as it Appears: Shipley, St Peter
Search Photos: Search for 'Shipley, St Peter' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
Father: Cornelins West
Spouse: Joe Harry Horsfall

She would have been 14 years older
Ellen born 1888 in Todmordon

The only one i could see was with William Calven in 39

Right so it isnt the Ellen on the 1939 with dob 19 Nov 1900
that one marries a Wm Claven and is on 1939 with him and dies in 1985

it isnt the one b 1888 as helena West as that one marries a guy surname Horsfall

and it isnt the one with mothers maiden name Haigh as that one is a Nellie west dying in 1901

So ...Looking for death of a Joseph Claven please
he is on the 1939 b abt 1925 in Garstang road St Vincents orphanage /boys home.

trying to find deaths for Edward and Helens children.
Can't add them to tree without death date.